Told my 15yo son that the first truck he owned he was going to have to build. We've started. Here are the pics.




When your restoration project starts with a rake, you know it'll take a while.




Not ready for a prom date just yet.







Sorry the pictures aren't in better order.

You know how you see a lot of surface rust and think "that's not too bad"? Well I learned that just getting the "surface rust" off a fender and priming it takes about 4 hours. This is going to be a long project.

 

man wish i could find one like that. great starter truck..

 

Nice start.

 

i'm jelous

 

Got the motor out.


Switching from the hoist to the stand is kind of like storks mating...not real pretty but gratifying at the end. I wish somebody had told me to extend the lift arm out all the way BEFORE you lift the engine.


Soaked the head in 100% seafoam to clean out the little carbon there was. I no longer believe in intake cleaning additives. That carbon DOES NOT come off easy.


We've since put it back together and are getting ready to paint.

 

beautiful truck, my aunt gave me mine after it sat for 15 years in her garage and i had to rebuild it also.....there always fun times.

 

Wow!! Green tires. What a concept. Nice truck

 

looks like a good one.

 

Looking good, Neil!

 

Before


During






After.

Now off to do the headers. Broke the $%^&* header bolts off on the exhaust header. I get to spend the evening with the drill press and some easy-outs. That's always a PIA.

 

That's a sweet looking truck! I'm going through the same process you are with my father's old truck. It has been a pleasure doing the work myself, but I have to admit that I am ready to be finished with it. Hopefully it will be back from paint soon. One month to a painter is a little different than a month to the rest of the world. I'm sure your son will appreciate his truck much more having built it with you rather than just picking one off a lot somewhere. Good luck.

 

I have the same truck my grandfather gave me in 1988 , i still drive it everyday , three motors later and same 4 speed and dana 44 rear end , I have over 400k on it , you might want to show your son the pics of my truck . Still havent painted yet but that will be last . Its been lowered 4 in front and 5 in rear , had i beams bent and cut springs , 0 camber and drives around corners on rails , but still can load it like a truck . Great project and welcome , doing a great job , cant wait to see more .

 

Seeing as I can't tell the difference between a Lincoln Continental and a Mark VIII (another thread), it isn't surprising that I can't tell a C-6 transmission from a C-4. I thought I had a C-6 until I took off the bell housing (C-4s are removable, C-6s aren't) and I counted 11 screws in the pan (C-6s have 17).

I'd get upset about being wrong so often, but at age 53, I'm used to it....

Good news is the rebuild kit is cheaper.

 

Rebuilt the Transmission. First time I ever opened one of these beasts and it scared the hell out of me.



Got it all put back and within spec.



Most of the parts back on the motor



Decided to mount the transmission and load it as a unit. Next time I buy the hoist balance bar. What a PIA.



Got it back in. Boy, am I ever sore. Still weeks away from the point where I want to try to turn it over.

 

Feels like a truck now with the tank in. Going to get it cranked for the first time in 8 years this weekend.

I know this build isn't as impressive as some of the other guys, but it is the first time I've ever done this and it is making me pretty happy.